Tag Archives: Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina

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Ashley Hewitt, a South Carolina (SC) resident and former paralegal, spent many childhood winters skiing on the slopes of the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. There are several options for skiers of all ability levels. Though the weather in SC can be fairly mild, just a few hours away the mountains offer Ashley Hewitt and others a chance to enjoy a wide variety of winter sports.

The Appalachian Mountains are the highest mountains in the East, offering ideal ski conditions from November through March. North Carolina features six full-service ski areas with 90 slopes, several freestyle all terrain parks, ice skating, and tubing. The weather is ideal, usually about 15-20 degrees cooler than at lower elevations. Resorts have extensive snow making capabilities, ensuring 100 percent slope coverage.

Sugar Mountain is the largest winter resort in North Carolina. It features the famous Whoopdedoo, the state’s only double black diamond trail and 115 acres of skiable terrain. In addition, Sugar Mountain features a half-pipe, tubing park, ice skating, and snowshoeing.

Beech Mountain, at an elevation of 5,506 feet, is the highest ski area in the East. The slopes at Beech Mountain are lit, allowing for night skiing.

Wolf Ridge, formerly Wolf Laurel, has been rated #1 for the past four years. It features 82 acres of skiable terrain and was expanded in 2006 with the development of an additional slope, quad lift, and terrain park.